Lacrosse head with leather strap in pocket

ABSTRACT

A lacrosse stick has a shaft and a head, the latter being formed of a frame with a proximal shank end and a distal lip end and an open center where a pocket formed of an open netting is supported. The frame defines a longitudinal axis extending between the shank end and the lip end, and there are a plurality of eyelets distributed around the frame. The pocket includes a leather strap positioned along the longitudinal axis, and may be about 1½ to 2½ inches in width. The strings used to form the pocket may be strung through eyelets in the periphery of the strap, and there may be transverse shooting strings, which can pass through slits or other openings in the strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is directed to a sporting equipment, and is more specifically directed to the head of a lacrosse stick or cross, in which the pocket, i.e., the web or netting supported in the frame of the head, is improved by including in it a wide leather strap for receiving the ball when caught, and to assist in cradling or carrying the ball and in throwing or shooting.

[0002] A number of modern lacrosse sticks have been put forward recently, in which the head has a frame made of a tough, lightweight plastic material and a pocket is laced or strung onto the frame. The heads can be of various designs and shapes, depending on the position of the player (attack, defense, midfielder, goalkeeper), and also depending on the preference of the player. The pocket is usually made of leather thongs and/or nylon strings, strung onto the frame of the head through eyelets that are distributed along the periphery of the frame, and interwoven into each other to make up the netting or web. In some cases, a nylon mesh may be used. Typically three or four additional strings, i.e., shooting strings, are laced through the pocket in the transverse direction, for the purpose of giving the player additional control when throwing or shooting the ball from the stick. In many designs, there are several leather thongs that extend in the longitudinal direction, i.e., from the shank end to the mouth or lip end of the head. However, these serve as strings, and are do not change the characteristics of the pocket.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object to provide the lacrosse stick with a pocket that improves the feel and the performance of the lacrosse stick, and which facilitates catching and shooting.

[0004] It is another object to provide a lacrosse stick head with an improved pocket that provides an audible sound when the ball is caught in the pocket, and which also facilitates throwing or shooting the ball.

[0005] It is a further object to provide an improved pocket for a lacrosse stick which does not interfere with the visibility of the ball being carried in the pocket.

[0006] According to an aspect of this invention, the head for a lacrosse stick is formed as a frame having a proximal shank end and a distal lip end and a longitudinal axis extending between the shank end and the lip end, with a plurality of eyelets distributed around said frame. A web pocket formed of an open netting is attached at its periphery to the eyelets of the frame. A leather strap is positioned along said longitudinal axis, and is strung or laced into the netting. The strap is of sufficient width to accommodate the lacrosse ball, and thus can be generally a rectangular strap of about 12 inches in length and an inch to about two-and-one-half inches in width, favorably about 2¼ inches. The strap can have an even width over its length, or can have a curve or taper. The leather strap produces an audible “snap” when the ball lands in the pocket, similar to the sound a baseball makes when a ballplayer catches it in the web of his glove, and this assists the lacrosse player by giving him some assurance about having successfully receive a pass from another player, for example. The leather strap also provides a surface or runway for the ball when it is being thrown or shot out the mouth end of the pocket, and improves accuracy and ball speed.

[0007] There are eyelets on the edges of the strap to facilitate lacing it into the pocket. There are also additional holes, preferably slits, through which the transverse shooting strings are threaded.

[0008] The term “leather” here is intended to cover both natural leather and synthetic materials that would have similar characteristics.

[0009] The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of a selected preferred embodiment, which is to be considered in connection with the accompanying Drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of the head of a lacrosse stick according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the lacrosse head of this embodiment.

[0012]FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of leather straps used in various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] With reference to the figure of Drawing, and initially FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a lacrosse stick, or cross 10, has a shaft 11 which is handled by the lacrosse player, and a head 12 that is mounted on the distal end of the shaft 11. The head 12 has a shank end, here at the lower part of the figures, that includes a socket 13 into which the shaft 11 is fitted, with a throat 14 and a mouth 15, with there being a lip 16 at the upper or distal end of head 12. As is typical, the head has an open frame 17 that is formed of a tough, rigid plastic resin and a pocket formed of a web or netting, and which is attached to the frame at eyelets 20 that are distributed around the periphery of the frame. The netting of the pocket 18 can be a mesh material, and in this case is formed of strings 20 that are interlaced and are also laced though the eyelets 20. The pocket 18 has a depth to it, as shown in FIG. 2, so that it can be used to receive, i.e., catch, a lacrosse ball and to carry the ball. The strings 20 can include nylon or other synthetic fiber strings, and can also include leather thongs, if desired.

[0014] In this embodiment, the pocket 18 incorporates a strap 21 formed of leather, and which extends along the longitudinal axis of the lacrosse head 12, as viewed from the front (FIG. 1). The strap 21 is about 12 inches in length, and spans the frame from the shank or socket end, i.e., the proximal end, to the center of the lip 14, i.e., the distal end of the pocket. The majority of the leather strap 21 is generally rectangular in shape, with a width to accommodate a lacrosse ball when in the pocket. The width should be at least about one inch, and can be favorably between 1¼ and 2¾ inches, more favorably 1½ to 2½ inches, and most favorably 1¾ to 2¼ inches. The strap 21 must not cover or conceal the ball, and the ball must be visible through the mesh or netting of the pocket when the lacrosse head is viewed from the side, i.e., FIG. 2. The leather can be cowhide, about {fraction (1/16)} inches thick, of the same sort of leather used in baseball gloves. The leather strap 21 can be a single thickness or more than one thickness.

[0015] The strap 21 has eyelets or perforations 22 along its periphery, and the strings 20 of the pocket are laced through these eyelets to create the pocket with the strap at the center and running along the longitudinal axis.

[0016] As is usual in modern lacrosse heads, there are also shooting strings 23 that span transversely across the frame 17 and are laced through the strings 20. In this embodiment there are three shooting strings 23, spaced from each other, and these also pass through slits 24 at the center of the leather strap 21. The shooting strings may be of a suitable material such as leather or rawhide, or may be a synthetic material, and in this embodiment are a woven “skate lace” construction.

[0017] The strap 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown to have a narrow tail portion 26 disposed at the shank end, but this is not a necessity. The strap 21 as shown here also has a small amount of taper, being slightly wider at the lip end, but depending on the action desired, the shape or profile of the strap can be of even width or can be varied.

[0018] Two examples of leather straps that can be employed in lacrosse heads of this invention are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows one alternative flat rectangular leather strap 121, with round eyelets 122 and round perforations 124 for the shooting strings, with the strap 121 being 2¼ inches in width and 12½ inches long. FIG. 4 shows another flat rectangular leather strap 221, with eyelets 222 and shooting string perforations 224, this strap 221 being 12½ inches in length and 2½ inches in width. The positions of the shooting string can vary from one lacrosse stick to the next, and so the positions of the perforations 24, 124, and 224 can be at other locations than what is shown.

[0019] The leather strap 21 makes a definite audible “snap” sound upon contact with the ball when the ball is received, and this assists the player in receiving and handling the ball with his or her stick. In addition, the strap 21 provides a stable, flat runway for the ball along the centerline of the pocket netting, and this also assists in handling the ball and in throwing or shooting.

[0020] Many variations of the above lacrosse head are possible. The shape of the frame may vary, and the netting may be of a mesh material, rather than interwoven strings. The leather strap 21 may be interwoven into the strings of the pocket, as shown here, or may be supported on top of and inside the mesh or string netting. Also, instead of leather made of animal hides, it is possible that the strap 21 be made of a synthetic leather material or a leather substitute.

[0021] While the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to selected preferred embodiments, it should be recognized that the invention is not limited to those embodiments. Rather, many modification and variations would present themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. Head for a lacrosse stick, comprising a frame having a proximal shank end and a distal lip end and a longitudinal axis extending between the shank end and the lip end, and a plurality of eyelets distributed around said frame; and a web pocket formed of an open netting that is attached at its periphery to said eyelets; the pocket including a leather strap positioned along said longitudinal axis.
 2. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said leather strap extends from said shank end to said lip end.
 3. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said leather strap has a width of at least one inch.
 4. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 3 wherein said leather strap is at least about 12 inches in length.
 5. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 3 wherein said strap is about 1½ to 2½ inches in width.
 6. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said strap is about 1¾ to 2¼ inches in width.
 7. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said strap is generally rectangular.
 8. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said strap has a tapered profile.
 9. The head for a lacrosse stick according to claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a plurality of transverse shooting strings, and said strap has a plurality of slots therein through which said transverse shooting strings are threaded.
 10. A pocket for the frame of a lacrosse head, comprising an open netting that is adapted to be fitted into an open center of the frame, the netting having a longitudinal axis; and a leather strap disposed along said axis and interconnected into said netting, said leather strap having a width of at least one inch, and allowing a lacrosse ball disposed in the pocket to be visible through the open netting of the pocket.
 11. A pocket according to claim 10 further comprising a plurality of shooting strings that extend transversely across said pocket, and said leather strap having a plurality of openings through which said shooting strings are threaded.
 12. A pocket according to claim 10 wherein said strap has a width of about 1¼ inches to about 2¾ inches.
 13. A pocket according to claim 10 wherein said strap has a plurality of eyelets distributed about its periphery and into which said netting is attached. 